Operating a vehicle can sometimes call upon most if not all of our senses. Unfortunately for some, not all of their senses may be in full working order and their impairment may present a more challenging set of conditions behind the wheel. The hearing impaired may lack some of the comfort and security on the road enjoyed by those who can depend fully upon all of their senses, but this need not be a reason for them to stay off the road or to feel intimidated by the prospect of operating a motor vehicle.

Operating a vehicle can sometimes call upon most if not all of our senses. Unfortunately for some, not all of their senses may be in full working order and their impairment may present a more challenging set of conditions behind the wheel. The hearing impaired may lack some of the comfort and security on the road enjoyed by those who can depend fully upon all of their senses, but this need not be a reason for them to stay off the road or to feel intimidated by the prospect of operating a motor vehicle. By recent estimates, more than 20 million Americans suffer some measure of hearing loss, disproportionately represented by those 65 and up. By understanding the risks attached to driving with a hearing impairment, those individuals can remain safe and confident behind the wheel.

The Risks of Driving with Hearing Impairment

Drivers who are hearing impaired, it has been proven, do not have more accidents or fines than those with healthy hearing. However, there are some valid risks that must be taken into account before declaring that hearing is unimportant to driving. Drivers with hearing impairment lack the ability to recognize sirens and warning signals as they approach, to aurally recognize the presence of a vehicle in their blind spot or anticipate other drivers approaching from around a corner by the sound of their engine. These are skills somewhat take for granted or practiced subconsciously by most drivers, but they can have real value on the road.

What to Do to Remain Safe as a Hearing-Impaired Driver

If medical assistance is available such as hearing aids and assistance, it is always a good idea to try to ameliorate any damage to one’s hearing by those means, not only for the comfort of easier communication but for the improvement of skills such as driving. If such help is ineffective, hearing-impaired drivers must simply be conscientious and particularly aware of their surroundings as well as other drivers on the road. While it is true that drivers who are totally deaf may experience other senses in a more heightened way, such as eyesight and the ability to sense vibrations in their surroundings,  those who experience only partial hearing loss may lose the ability to recognize sounds in their vicinity without the compensatory benefit of other senses being improved. It is thus, ironically, those who have some remaining diminished hearing who are most encouraged to acquire aids and to be particularly diligent to check their surroundings on the road.

What to Do If You Are In an Extreme Weather Accident

If you have been the victim of an accident resulting from extreme weather, getting you back to full physical and financial health means finding skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced legal representatives to assist you in acquiring the compensation that you are due. Your interests will be best represented by a firm that not only understands the law, but medical terminology, conditions, and procedures as well. You must assume that the other party in your case will acquire skilled representation and that you must do the same to ensure your well-being.